Concerns, Christ, and Chi Omega :-)

Monday, November 1, 2010

Monday = Funday!

I don't have classes on Monday, Wednesday or Friday because of my amazing 9 hour senior schedule. What do I do in my free-time you might ask? Well...a number of things! I've been blessed enough to mentor two amazing freshman girls, work on the Muster Committee, play 4 intramurals, and of course, Chi Omega. Today's post is dedicated to my fraternity (yes, chi o is actually a fraternity due to the fact it was founded by a man, Dr. Richardson) and my Lord.

I came into college not really sure about getting into the Greek system. I was raised playing sports and never really had any "girl drama" in my life because of the solid girls the Lord blessed me with. The thought of joining a sorority sounded exciting to me, but at the same time, I had seen what they looked like in movies and wasn't really into that kind of thing. Nevertheless, I gave it a shot and found such awesome community in
Chi O. These girls have made me the person I am during a time in life where it's so easy to slip into being a person you can hardly even recognize anymore. I've been mentored and discipled in this sorority and I can confidently say these girls have made me into the better version of myself.

This past Monday, I was able to give "a word", as I like to jokingly call it, at meeting. About 2 weeks ago, I'd been reflecting on life a lot and realizing how very small and fragile we are as human beings. Strangely enough, I kept getting these emails from my grandpa and friends that showed a person, then scanned back to the world, then scanned back to the galaxy, then scanned to other galaxies...just furthering my thoughts on the whole subject. I went through some points in my week really upset and down, thinking, "I am so small and insignificant...my life is so short...how can I do anything of substance with my life?"

At this thought, I quickly remembered the beauty of it all. Though I'm small and my life is a vapor, my Maker knows me personally and loves me passionately. I'm able to have a personal and intimate relationship with the One who's bigger than me, the world, the galaxies. He made them! How cool is that to stop and reflect on?

One step further, I thought about my purpose on this Earth. The only thing I can do in this world that can even make a dent are things of eternal value that bring glory to God's name. That really puts things into perspective for me during my senior year. Though my school hours are short and my extracurriculars are many... haha... in everything I do, may I do it to the glory of the Lord. Whether that's playing a sport and encouraging the people around me or teaching a freshman the word of God.

This, in a nutshell, was the "word" I shared with the chapter this week. It's what's been on my heart and something that has consumed a lot of my thoughts as of late. My mom sent me this devotional on one of those days I was struggling with my inadequacy. I hope it speaks to you like it did to me.

Sunday, October 24, 2010 Life on Earth is a Test by Rick Warren God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart. 2 Chronicles 32:31 (NLT) "When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. " Over your Decade of Destiny, you will be tested by God as he develops your character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. Words like trials, temptations, refining, and testing occur more than 200 times in Scripture. God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his son Isaac. God tested Jacob when he had to work extra years to earn Rachel as his wife. Adam and Eve failed their test in the Garden of Eden, and David failed a test from God on several occasions. But the Bible also gives us many examples of people who passed great tests, such as Joseph, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel. "Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. " Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. You are always being tested. God constantly watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather! He even watches the simplest actions such as when you open a door for others, when you pick up a piece of trash, or when you're polite toward a clerk or waitress. We don't know all the tests God will give you, but we can predict some of them, based on the Bible. You will be tested by major changes, by delayed promises, by impossible problems, by unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies. In my own life I have noticed that God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions, and tests my love through people. A very important test is how you act when you can't feel God's presence in your life. Sometimes God intentionally draws back, and we don't sense his closeness. A king named Hezekiah experienced this test. The Bible says, "God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart." (2 Chronicles 32:31 NLT) Hezekiah had enjoyed a close fellowship with God, but at a crucial point in his life God left him alone to test his character, to reveal a weakness, and to prepare him for more responsibility. When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God. The good news is that God wants you to pass the tests of life, so he never allows them to be greater than the grace he gives you to handle them (1 Corinthians 10:13).